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{{Comicstory| | |||
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual 1987]] | |||
|prev=The Return of the Transformers | |||
|next=Victory! | |||
|title=State Games | |||
|image=State games 1.JPG | |||
|caption=The golden age before the golden age. | |||
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | |||
|date=September 1986 | |||
|coverdate=1987 | |||
|writer=[[James Hill]] | |||
|art=Uncredited, possibly [[John Stokes]] | |||
|lettering= | |||
|colours= | |||
|editor= | |||
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] | |||
}} | |||
'''The War begins...''' | '''The War begins...''' | ||
==Featured Characters== | |||
{{featuredcharacters | |||
|c1= | |||
* | *[[Autobot Overlord]] | ||
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] | |||
* | *[[Xaaron]] | ||
*[[Tomaandi]] | |||
*[[Traachon]] | |||
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] | |||
*[[Nightstalker]] | |||
|c2= | |||
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] | |||
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] | |||
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] | |||
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] | |||
}} | |||
==Synopsis== | ==Synopsis== | ||
Set before the war began, the [[State Games]] was an inter-city [[Gladiatorial combat|competition]] created by the [[Overlord (rank)|Autobot Overlord]] to facilitate goodwill between the various [[City-state|city-states]] such as [[Iacon]], [[Tarn]] and [[Vos]]. Tensions had been rising on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as new [[Transformer]] life was created unabated putting increased pressure on the planet's resources. | Set before the war began, the [[State Games]] was an inter-city [[Gladiatorial combat|competition]] created by the [[Overlord (rank)|Autobot Overlord]] to facilitate goodwill between the various [[City-state|city-states]] such as [[Iacon]], [[Tarn]] and [[Vos]]. Tensions had been rising on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as new [[Transformer]] life was created unabated putting increased pressure on the planet's resources. | ||
| Line 22: | Line 44: | ||
The games in this story were being held in Tarn. The Vos athletic team broke into Tarn's power generator with the purpose of planting a bomb, destroying Tarn, while at the same time leaving evidence to suggest that it was Iacon who were responsible. The resulting war would decimate Tarn and Iacon, leaving Vos (ruled by a criminal syndicate headed by Starscream) the most powerful city on Cybertron. However the team were caught in the process. The bomb still went off, but not before Vos' guilt became known. Tarn was instantly nearly completely destroyed and the war between Vos and Tarn began. | The games in this story were being held in Tarn. The Vos athletic team broke into Tarn's power generator with the purpose of planting a bomb, destroying Tarn, while at the same time leaving evidence to suggest that it was Iacon who were responsible. The resulting war would decimate Tarn and Iacon, leaving Vos (ruled by a criminal syndicate headed by Starscream) the most powerful city on Cybertron. However the team were caught in the process. The bomb still went off, but not before Vos' guilt became known. Tarn was instantly nearly completely destroyed and the war between Vos and Tarn began. | ||
[[Image:State games 2.JPG|left|150px|thumb|'Ey buddy, can you spare me a dime?]] | |||
[[Image:State games 2.JPG| | |||
The commencement of hostilities trapped the athletes and the Autobot Overlord in what was now the frontline of a inter-city war. The Autobot Overlord was ancient and frail, and required frequent care. Megatron and Optimus Prime accompanied the Overlord's two bodyguards Ravage and Nightstalker in attempting to return the Overlord to Iacon through the battlefield. However the fighting became too intense, and Optimus Prime left the other three with the Overlord to go to Iacon alone to gather reinforcements. While Prime was away Nightstalker sacrificed himself in a suicide explosion leaving only Ravage and Megatron to stand guard. Megatron, seeing that Cybertron was about to go through a major political change, left the Overlord to die, with Ravage following suit. | The commencement of hostilities trapped the athletes and the Autobot Overlord in what was now the frontline of a inter-city war. The Autobot Overlord was ancient and frail, and required frequent care. Megatron and Optimus Prime accompanied the Overlord's two bodyguards Ravage and Nightstalker in attempting to return the Overlord to Iacon through the battlefield. However the fighting became too intense, and Optimus Prime left the other three with the Overlord to go to Iacon alone to gather reinforcements. While Prime was away Nightstalker sacrificed himself in a suicide explosion leaving only Ravage and Megatron to stand guard. Megatron, seeing that Cybertron was about to go through a major political change, left the Overlord to die, with Ravage following suit. | ||
When the war between Vos and Tarn had finished, Megatron convinced the survivors to unite as a new faction, [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], against Iacon, who Megatron was convinced could have intervened to prevent the war. | When the war between Vos and Tarn had finished, Megatron convinced the survivors to unite as a new faction, [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], against Iacon, who Megatron was convinced could have intervened to prevent the war. | ||
{{-}} | |||
==Items of note== | ==Items of note== | ||
* This issue is prefaced with the title "A Tale from Cybertron". | * This issue is prefaced with the title "A Tale from Cybertron". | ||
| Line 37: | Line 57: | ||
* IDW's ''[[Megatron Origin]]'' is in many ways a retelling of "State Games", using combat games (albeit illegal), economic depression and anger towards the politics of Iacon as major plot points. | * IDW's ''[[Megatron Origin]]'' is in many ways a retelling of "State Games", using combat games (albeit illegal), economic depression and anger towards the politics of Iacon as major plot points. | ||
{{note|Fan speculation back in the day had Overlord as [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. However, other stories set around this time cannot be reconciled with events in this story, as Prime is specifically referred to as "Prime". The use of the term "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]" as leader of the [[Autobot|Autobots]] was a constant introduced later in the G1 mythos.}} | |||
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]] | [[Category:Marvel UK issues]] | ||
Revision as of 16:38, 31 March 2009
| |||||||||||||
 The golden age before the golden age. | |||||||||||||
| State Games | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||||||||||||
| First published | September 1986 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | 1987 | ||||||||||||
| Writer | James Hill | ||||||||||||
| Art | Uncredited, possibly John Stokes | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Marvel Comics continuity | ||||||||||||
The War begins...
Featured Characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
Synopsis
Set before the war began, the State Games was an inter-city competition created by the Autobot Overlord to facilitate goodwill between the various city-states such as Iacon, Tarn and Vos. Tensions had been rising on Cybertron as new Transformer life was created unabated putting increased pressure on the planet's resources.
Megatron, a citizen of Tarn, was a successful but particularly vicious athlete. Optimus Prime was very much his equal, and the two shared a somewhat acrimonious sporting rivalry.
The games in this story were being held in Tarn. The Vos athletic team broke into Tarn's power generator with the purpose of planting a bomb, destroying Tarn, while at the same time leaving evidence to suggest that it was Iacon who were responsible. The resulting war would decimate Tarn and Iacon, leaving Vos (ruled by a criminal syndicate headed by Starscream) the most powerful city on Cybertron. However the team were caught in the process. The bomb still went off, but not before Vos' guilt became known. Tarn was instantly nearly completely destroyed and the war between Vos and Tarn began.
The commencement of hostilities trapped the athletes and the Autobot Overlord in what was now the frontline of a inter-city war. The Autobot Overlord was ancient and frail, and required frequent care. Megatron and Optimus Prime accompanied the Overlord's two bodyguards Ravage and Nightstalker in attempting to return the Overlord to Iacon through the battlefield. However the fighting became too intense, and Optimus Prime left the other three with the Overlord to go to Iacon alone to gather reinforcements. While Prime was away Nightstalker sacrificed himself in a suicide explosion leaving only Ravage and Megatron to stand guard. Megatron, seeing that Cybertron was about to go through a major political change, left the Overlord to die, with Ravage following suit.
When the war between Vos and Tarn had finished, Megatron convinced the survivors to unite as a new faction, Decepticons, against Iacon, who Megatron was convinced could have intervened to prevent the war.
Items of note
- This issue is prefaced with the title "A Tale from Cybertron".
- Optimus Prime is but a successful Iaconian athlete in this story. The Autobot Overlord seems to be the (possibly figurehead) leader of Cybertron. Emirate Xaaron and High Councilor Tomaandi appear to be Iacon politicians, with General Traachon being the leader of the Iacon military.
- This story tells us how Megatron originally came across his fusion cannon. Notice that he's (intentionally) missing it in all the artwork of this story.
- This story precedes "And There Shall Come...a Leader!" chronologically and retcons that story's stance that Megatron and Prime did not know each other before the war.
- The concept of the Decepticons having their origins in gladiatorial games was visited again in both the Dreamwave and IDW continuities.
- IDW's Megatron Origin is in many ways a retelling of "State Games", using combat games (albeit illegal), economic depression and anger towards the politics of Iacon as major plot points.
Fan speculation back in the day had Overlord as Sentinel Prime. However, other stories set around this time cannot be reconciled with events in this story, as Prime is specifically referred to as "Prime". The use of the term "Prime" as leader of the Autobots was a constant introduced later in the G1 mythos.
